Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The plan shows how a collage cafe looked like before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

The cafe has been considerably redesigned. The kitchen remain same place, while the serving area has been expanded with different facilities: a salad bar, takeaway food, barbecue, outdoor seating area, and coffee bar. The toilets and bin are in the same place, although their position has been slightly changed.

Before the redesign, the kitchen was in the top-left corner; the serving area with all food and drink was directly below. In the upper middle, there is a staff dining room. Toilets are in the bottom-right corner, while a bin is placed along the right-hand wall.

After the redesign, the cafe kitchen remains in the same place in the top-left corner; the serving area is changed to hot meals, a left-side salad bar, and a barbecue; the staff dining room is changed to a takeaway food and coffee bar. A large outdoor seating area has been created along the bottom of the café. toilets have been in the same place, while the bin has been replaced with a cycle bin.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the cafe redesign, including the expansion of the serving area and the addition of the outdoor seating. You provided a clear comparison between the 'before' and 'after' states. However, the report could be improved by grouping information more logically. For instance, instead of listing features in a somewhat disjointed way, you could have categorized them by 'structural changes' versus 'functional changes'. Additionally, ensure that all details are accurate; for example, you mentioned the kitchen remains in the same place, which is correct, but your description of the toilets and bin placement is slightly confusing. Overall, you have covered the requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the 'before' to the 'after' state. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Before the redesign' and 'After the redesign' are used effectively to signal shifts in time, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be smoother. Some sentences feel like a list of features rather than a cohesive narrative. Improving the use of linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in contrast' would help to connect your ideas more fluidly and elevate the overall structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redesigned', 'expanded', and 'facilities'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'collage cafe' (likely a spelling error for 'college') and 'cycle bin' (which is likely a 'recycling bin'). The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and avoid repetitive structures. Using a wider variety of descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes would demonstrate a more sophisticated lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'The kitchen remain same place' should be 'The kitchen remains in the same place', and 'toilets have been in the same place' should be 'the toilets remain in the same place'. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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